Dear Dr. ,

The current COVID-19 pandemic has made clear that we as educators need to adapt and innovate. In both academic and clinical environments, we are responsible for training the next generation of healthcare professionals. The pandemic has been a catalyst for seismic shifts in how we approach medical education; fortunately, we already have excellent tools with which we can not only manage, but excel during these challenging times.

The educational environment we’re setting up now will likely remain the norm for a while. There is no clear picture of how long a model of predominantly-remote learning will need to continue, but one thing is clear: medical school leaders will continue to face the uncertainty of disrupted academic calendars, workforce reductions and budget cuts for some time to come. I see four priorities for medical schools going forward:

1. Maintain health and safety. Medical school leaders will need to make hard choices regarding reopening their schools – specifically when, how, and with which health and safety protocols. As they do this, a different set of vulnerable students and staff may emerge – those living with at-risk family members or those who are particularly susceptible to infection themselves. Some form of remote learning will thus need to be sustained, even after schools open their doors again.

2. Maximize student learning and performance. Delivering high-quality instruction is a challenge in the current environment. Some medical schools have been able to roll out synchronous and asynchronous online learning, while many are struggling to establish an effective adjusted delivery model. This leaves students with considerable catching up to do; however, new models can also lay the foundation for more resilient and efficient teaching in the future.

3. Support faculty and staff. Much is being demanded of medical school faculty and staff, many of whom have families of their own to look after as they adapt to new teaching methods. They deserve – and need – the support of their school leadership. A lack of digital teaching resources and rigidity in curriculum development need to be addressed by medical school leaders.

4. Ensure a strong operational and financial future. Medical schools need to start planning for different epidemiological and economic scenarios, and be ready to adapt in the case of budget reductions. There are no easy answers. Even if budgets are reduced, it will remain important for medical school leaders to keep adaptable, high-quality instruction a top priority.

Crises can be both a catalyst for creative problem solving and a lens through which we can focus on the future. Under the pressure of the COVID-19 crisis, the luxury of time for rethinking traditional ways of teaching has all but disappeared; the opportunity to embrace alternative teaching approaches, however, has not. Digital innovation can help improve student learning, and contribute to a stronger organizational foundation going forward. What we’re seeing as “fixes” now, however, are not just band aids : if done right, they can be the foundation for a better future.